Federated Farmers argues that Greenpeace’s actions, which include instances of trespassing on private property and vandalism of public property, are fundamentally inconsistent with the criteria for maintaining charitable status in New Zealand. Organizations holding this status are required to operate for the public good and not primarily for political or advocacy purposes. This distinction is central to the legal challenge posed by the farmers’ organization.

The current demand is not an isolated incident. Federated Farmers had previously lodged a formal complaint with Charities Services in April, following Greenpeace’s illegal occupation of Port Taranaki. This history of alleged disruptive and unlawful conduct forms the basis of the renewed push to strip the environmental group of its charitable benefits and legal standing.

The ongoing dispute highlights a growing tension between environmental advocacy groups and the agricultural sector, particularly the dairy industry, in New Zealand. Farmers are increasingly vocal about the impact of what they perceive as targeted campaigns that undermine their livelihoods and spread misrepresentations about farming practices. This clash impacts the broader agribusiness landscape and public perception of dairy production.